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DATE=3/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228551
TITLE=PAK MILITARY (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  PAKISTAN PRESIDENT RAFIQ TARAR SAYS THE COUNTRY WILL 
CONTINUE TO PURSUE ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES 
BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS.  AS 
CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS -- THE PRESIDENT MADE HIS 
REMARKS AT A LARGE MILITARY PARADE IN ISLAMABAD.
TEXT:               // NATURAL SOUND MILITARY BAND //
THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS MARCHED WHILE MISSILES, TANKS, AND OTHER 
WEAPONS ROLLED DOWN ISLAMABAD'S MAIN BOULEVARD FOR THE ANNUAL 
"PAKISTAN-DAY" PARADE TO COMMEMORATE THE DATE MUSLIMS CALLED FOR 
AN INDEPENDENT HOMELAND IN SOUTH ASIA.  
PRESIDENT RAFIQ TARAR SPOKE TO THE LARGE CROWD SAYING PAKISTAN  
WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM FOR PEACEFUL 
PURPOSES.
     // TARAR ACT IN URDU THEN UNDER ENGLISH TRANSLATION // 
         WE CONSIDER THE ACQUISITION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY AS 
         NECESSARY FOR OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS AND 
         EXISTENCE OF OUR COUNTRY WITH DIGNITY.  OUR NUCLEAR 
         PROGRAM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE SAME CONTEXT.
                          // END ACT //
PAKISTAN HAS INDICATED IT MAY REVIEW ITS NUCLEAR POLICY FOLLOWING
THE NEW INDIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO RE-EVALUATE ITS NUCLEAR 
PROGRAM.
BOTH COUNTRIES ARE CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF MAKING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. 
INDIA CONDUCTED AN UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TEST IN 1974.  NEW DELHI 
AND ISLAMABAD SAY THEY ARE USING ATOMIC ENERGY ONLY FOR PEACEFUL 
PURPOSES.
IN HIS SPEECH, PRESIDENT TARAR SAID PAKISTAN WANTS FRIENDLY 
RELATIONS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, BUT HE SAID THE COUNTRY'S ARMED 
FORCES ARE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH FOREIGN AGGRESSION.
     // TARAR ACT IN URDU THEN UNDER ENGLISH TRANSLATION //
         FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES OF PEACEFUL LIVING AND LET 
         LIVING WITH ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD -- PARTICULARLY
         WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES -- WE WANT TO ESTABLISH 
         GOOD FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIPS.   BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT 
         CLEAR THAT OUR WISH FOR PEACE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED 
         AS OUR WEAKNESS.  BY THE GRACE OF GOD OUR ARMED FORCES 
         ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST WEAPONS, HAVE FAITH IN GOD,
         ARE FULLY PROFESSIONAL AND AT ALL TIMES ARE READY TO 
         DEFEND THEIR HOMELAND.  FAITH IN ALMIGHTY ALLAH IS THEIR
         SUPER WEAPON.
                          // END ACT //
THERE WAS TIGHT SECURITY AT THE NATIONAL-DAY PARADE, FOLLOWING A 
RECENT SERIES OF BOMB BLASTS THAT CLAIMED DOZENS OF LIVES.  
PAKISTAN HAS ACCUSED INDIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES OF BEING BEHIND
THE BLASTS -- A CHARGE NEW DELHI DENIES.   
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS SINCE BOTH COUNTRIES 
GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN IN 1947.   (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/CB/RAE
23-Mar-98 7:39 AM EST (1239 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.